The intent of this meeting is to consider alternatives for the conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks.

As of March 1, the agenda and venue had not been set. For more information, visit the Federal Register page:

http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/02/10/2011-2987/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-meeting-of-the-atlantic-highly-migratory-species-advisory-panel

source: NOAA Fish News?

                          

NOAA Fisheries Service is again reminding tournament operators to register their Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) tournaments for 2011. This includes tournaments occurring on the U.S. East Coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the U.S. Caribbean.

According to NOAA. registering HMS tournaments help with the collection of important recreational catch and effort information which is used to analyze the impacts of potential fishery management actions, assess the status of Atlantic HMS, and to assist the United States in complying with international fishery management obligations.

Federal regulations require that all tournaments awarding points or prizes for Atlantic HMS, including tunas, sharks, swordfish, and/or billfish, register with NOAA Fisheries Service at least four weeks prior to the start of the fishing tournament.

For more information or to register tournaments, see:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/newslist/2010/12-09-10_2011_HMS_Tournament_Registration_Reminder.pdf

source: NOAA Fish News

                          

The purpose of the meeting is to consider alternatives for the conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks.

For more information, visit to the HMS Division website at:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Advisory%20Panels/Advisory_Panel.htm

                          

HMS tournament registration facilitates the collection of important recreational catch and effort information which is used to analyze the impacts of potential fishery management actions, assess the status of Atlantic HMS, and to assist the United States in complying with international fishery management obligations. Federal regulations require that all tournaments awarding points or prizes for Atlantic HMS, including tunas, sharks, swordfish, and/or billfish, register with NMFS at least four weeks prior to the start of the fishing tournament.

Several tournaments have already registered for 2010. If you have not yet registered your 2010 HMS tournament(s) with NMFS’ HMS Management Division, please do so by following these instructions:

Complete the enclosed registration form. Additional forms may be obtained at either www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfalhms or www.hmspermits.gov or by calling the HMS Management Division’s St. Petersburg office at (727) 824-5399.

Fax or mail the completed form to the HMS Management Division in St. Petersburg,FL, at the contact information below. When completing the registration form, please write legibly and specify the name of the tournament operator.
Fax: 727-824-5398
Mail: NMFS – HMS Management Division
263 13th Avenue South
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701

Upon receipt of a completed registration form, the HMS Management Division will provide the operator with a tournament registration number, which should be retained for the remainder of the fishing year. If selected for reporting tournament results, operators will be contacted by NMFS’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center. HMS fisheries educational materials, including instructional DVDs for rigging natural baits with circle hooks, may be requested by calling the phone number below.

Finally, NMFS urges operators to remind tournament participants of HMS permit requirements. For more information about HMS permits, please log on to www.hmspermits.gov or call the HMS Management Division’s St. Petersburg office at (727) 824-5399. Thank you, in advance, for registering your 2010 HMS tournament(s).